[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 137 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH CELEBRATED 50TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 6, 1997

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to 
congratulate Our Lady of Consolation Roman Catholic Church in 
Merrillville, IN, in celebration of its 50th anniversary as a parish 
last Sunday, October 5, 1997. The anniversary celebration began with a 
Mass of thanksgiving, which was celebrated by Bishop Dale J. Melczek. 
Following the Mass, there was a banquet in the parish hall.
  A parish of humble beginnings, Our Lady of Consolation, which was 
established as Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1947, celebrated its first 
Mass on October 5, 1947, in a town fire station. The parish was founded 
by Father Alvin Jasinski under the direction of the Fort Wayne Diocese 
to serve the needs of the growing Catholic population of Independence 
Hill, a section of what is now Merrillville, IN. In November 1947, 1 
acre of land, which included a store and other buildings, was purchased 
as a more suitable site for the church. Many parishioners contributed 
their time, talent, money, and materials to transform the store into 
the first Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Land for a permanent church 
site was acquired and a building fund was begun under the guidance of 
Father Leo Ambruster in the early 1960's. With the determination and 
patience of the parishioners, the cornerstone of the new church was 
blessed on August 27, 1967, only several years after the purchase of 
the land. The church was dedicated by Bishop Andrew Grutka as Our Lady 
of Consolation.
  Our Lady of Consolation derived its name from the 2d century writer, 
St. Ignatius of Antioch. St. Ignatius was the first to express devotion 
to Mary as ``Consoler of the Afflicted.'' In the 17th century, when an 
outbreak of bubonic plague ravaged and decimated the Luxembourg 
population, the people prayed to Mary, Consoler of the Afflicted, for 
relief in their anguish and fear of death. Bishop Grutka decided to 
change the parish name from Immaculate Heart of Mary Church to Our Lady 
of Consolation since Holy Trinity Church in Gary, IN, built a statute 
commissioned ``Christ the Consoler.'' The bishop stated it was 
appropriate that Christ the Consoler have a Mother of Consolation.
  In recent years, Our Lady of Consolation has flourished under the 
guidance of Father Joseph Vamos who arrived at the parish in 1987. In 
1988, the cornerstone was laid for a parish activity center, which 
consists of a chapel used for weekday Mass, small weddings, and 
funerals, a parish office, large social and banquet hall, fully 
equipped kitchen, and six large classrooms. The classrooms are being 
utilized for faith formation program classes, small parish meetings, 
and a preschool serving approximately 40 children. The entire parish 
complex, which also consists of a rectory, was paid for within 3 years 
of its construction. Currently, the parish has taken on other 
initiatives, which include the redecoration of the church, the purchase 
of a new sacristy, the addition of an atrium entry way to the parish 
center, and the installation of stained glass windows in the chapel. 
The recent prosperity of Our Lady of Consolation may be attributed to 
both the foresight of past parish pastors, as well as the success of 
the parish's annual festival. The annual festival is a tradition that 
dates back to the early days of the parish in Independence Hill.
  Although Our Lady of Consolation has changed drastically over the 
years, some aspects have remained the same. For instance, some of the 
original members of the small church in Independence Hill are still 
parishioners. Also, the Holy Name Society and the Altar and Rosary 
Sodality, which were founded in the very beginning of the church's 
history, still work for the betterment of the church today. Other 
organizations within the parish include an Over 55 Club, a parish youth 
group, and a newly formed Knights of Columbus Good Shepherd Council. 
The original parish consisted of under 100 families. Today, the number 
is over 1,000.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me today in commending the parish family of Our Lady of Consolation, 
under the guidance of Father Joseph Vamos, as they celebrate the 50th 
anniversary of their founding. All past and present parishioners and 
pastors should be proud of the numerous contributions they have made 
out of the love and devotion they have displayed for their church.

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